By Brook Valley CofE Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 138112 Inspection date 19/07/2010 Inspector Lindsay Ann Farenden

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Type of setting Childminder to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

The childminder has been registered since 1996. She lives with her husband, one adult child and one child aged 10 years, near Wimbledon in the London borough of Merton. She lives in a house where access to the toilet is on the ground floor. The whole of the ground floor of the home is used for childminding. One room is a designated play room. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the following registers; the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for six children under eight years, of whom three may be in the early years age group. The childminder regularly works with another childminder. When working with another childminder, she is able to provide care for six children in the early years age group. There are currently six children in the early years age group on roll who attend on various days during the week.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

All children relish their time in this delightful childminding setting in which the childminder provides highly effective care and learning opportunities to promote their emotional, social and intellectual capabilities. The childminder recognises and values the uniqueness of each child, providing a fully inclusive service where each child is nurtured, respected and included. Close working relationships with parents ensures excellent continuity of care. The childminder is committed to working in partnership with other settings to further promote children’s learning in her setting. Using self-evaluation the childminder is very aware of the strengths and areas for improvement in the provision and constantly strives to improve the outcomes for children in her care. The childminder works in close partnership with another childminder in her home.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 further develop risk assessments for each type of outing  further improve record keeping by including children's surnames in documentation

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the early years provision

Children are well safeguarded by the childminder because she has attended child protection training and knows what to do if she has concerns about a child’s welfare. Adults living in the home have been suitably vetted and the childminder’s daughter, now aged 16, is awaiting clearance. Since the last inspection electric This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 smoke alarms have been fitted on each floor of the childminder’s home. The childminder carries out fire drills to ensure children can be evaluated quickly and safely if necessary. The childminder carries out daily written risk assessment checks of her home, ensuring high priority is given to children’s safety at all times. The childminder has started to do a risk assessment for outings, but these do not fully relate to each individual outing. A wealth of written polices and procedures guide the childminder in her daily practice to promote children’s health, safety and

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the early years provision

welfare. All required documentation is in place, although some records do not always include children’s surnames.

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the early years provision

One room is set up as a dedicated playroom, which is extremely welcoming for children with posters, their art work and photographs showing children the routine of the day. The childminder devotes her time to the children when they are present and clearly enjoys her role. She provides an excellent range of play resources which are attractively stored in drawers with pictures clearly showing what is in them. Children’s independence is encouraged extremely well as they are able to make choices about what they play with, building on their natural curiosity as learners.

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the early years provision

Excellent relationships with parents contribute to inclusion and meeting any additional needs children have extremely well. Parent’s views about their child’s needs and interests are actively sought during the settling in period and on a regular basis throughout their time in the childminder’s care. They are kept very well informed of their child’s day through verbal feedback and a board with details about meals provided, activities, songs and stories that have taken place. Parents are welcome to view their child’s learning journal and the childminder keeps them well informed about how their children are progressing and developing. Letters from parents at the time of the inspection show they think extremely highly of the childminder and how much their children thoroughly enjoy attending the setting.

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the early years provision

The childminder is very sensitive to ensuring that children who have English as an additional language feel happy and secure in her setting. She gives them extra attention, letting them follow her about and stay close to her, whilst at the same time encouraging them to play, look at books and join in activities with the other children. They are encouraged to use gestures to actively communicate their likes and dislikes

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the early years provision

The childminder is very committed to constantly improving her childminding practice, through the use of self-evaluation, reading childcare journals and attending regular training to keep up to date with current childcare practices.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel very safe and secure in the care of this experienced and dedicated childminder, where they know their needs will be met. She is exceptionally patient with the children and promotes positive behaviour and children’s confidence with constant praise. Children play very well together and treat each other kindly and the childminder explains to them about sharing in a gentle manner. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children are provided with excellent planned topic activities and play opportunities to improve their skills in all areas of development. The childminder makes highly worthwhile observations of children at play. These are skilfully evaluated and used to plan each individual child’s next step of learning and development. The very high quality learning journeys which include photographs of children doing activities and their art work show that children are making excellent progress

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and outcomes for children

towards the early learning goals. For example, children aged two years have a wide repertoire of rhymes and confidently count up to 10 and above.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has set up a very comfortable and inviting book area in which children love looking at books. Books relating to the current topic are read to the children at group story time, which the childminder tells with great expression, consequently they listen to them with interest. They have enormous fun singing action songs together and counting as they clap their hands loudly and softly. Children use their imaginations very well as they have fun pretending to go on picnics with play foods. Children enjoy playing with a good range of toys which reflect positive images of all aspects of society, which helps children to acknowledge and accept diversity. Babies enjoy exploring colourful toys and developing their balancing skills by pulling themselves up into a standing position using low level furniture.

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and outcomes for children

Children express themselves creatively through an extensive range of mediums, such as painting activities, drawing and mark making, play dough, using glue to make their own unique pictures, cooking, sand and water play. They learn about the natural world as they talk about the weather with the childminder and enjoy sowing seeds in pretty hanging baskets in the garden. Children learn about protecting the environment as the childminder talks to them about putting paper in the recycling bin in the playroom to help preserve trees.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder actively helps children develop healthy lifestyles. Playtime in the well equipped childminder’s garden is a fundamental part of the day. The children eagerly use a new low piece of climbing play equipment, use wheeled toys and play ball games. The childminder is astutely aware of the importance of providing children with nutritious, home cooked meals to introduce children to healthy eating habits from a young age. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate, so is able to attend to minor injuries. She provides children with very clean areas for rest and play. Probing questions from the childminder help children to learn the importance of protecting themselves in the sun, by wearing hats and applying sun cream. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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Stage

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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